LONDON: Urfan Sharif, father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, has confessed before the court to brutally beating his daughter, leading to her tragic death adding that his intention was not to kill her.
Sharif, a 42-year-old minicab driver, stands accused of murdering Sara in their Surrey home on August 8, 2023.
He is on trial alongside his wife, Beinash Batool, 30, and his brother Faisal Malik, 29. Prosecutors allege that the three engaged in a “campaign of abuse” against Sara before fleeing to Pakistan shortly after her death.
The young girl’s body was found in a bunkbed, bearing 71 external injuries, including fractures, burns, bruises, and bite marks.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC, Sharif admitted he “takes full responsibility” for Sara’s death. He acknowledged using a cricket bat and a metal pole to inflict severe injuries over a prolonged period. According to his statements, his actions were partly fueled by frustration over Sara’s episodes of soiling herself and vomiting, which he interpreted as “naughtiness.”
Sharif’s admission came as Carberry presented harrowing details of Sara’s injuries, which included at least 25 fractures. Confronted with these accusations, he responded, “Yes, she died because of me,” adding that he “accepts every single thing.”
In the courtroom, a handwritten note found beside Sara’s body was also revealed. The note, allegedly written by Sharif, read: “I swear to God that my intention was not to kill her. But I lost it.” The note described his fear after the incident, explaining why he fled.
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Despite the confessions, Sharif and his co-defendants have entered pleas of not guilty to charges of murder and causing or allowing Sara’s death. Sharif claimed he had initially taken responsibility to protect his family, and later suggested that his wife, Batool, was responsible for Sara’s abuse. However, Carberry’s questions on the stand prompted him to acknowledge the severity of his actions, including hitting Sara with “force” using the cricket bat.
Further questioning revealed Sharif’s distress over Sara’s deteriorating physical condition in the weeks leading up to her death. A video clip from August 6, just two days before her death, was shown in court, capturing Sara dancing and smiling. However, Sharif admitted to brutally beating her the same evening.
The trial continues, with Sharif’s legal team requesting a private consultation following the intense cross-examination. The defense maintains not guilty pleas for all charges, while the prosecution presses forward with its case, asserting that Sara suffered a pattern of abuse that ultimately led to her tragic death.